U.S. patent number 10,145,766 [Application Number 15/604,698] was granted by the patent office on 2018-12-04 for smear preparing apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to SYSMEX CORPORATION. The grantee listed for this patent is SYSMEX CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Kenji Kondo, Shogo Kubota, Seiya Shinabe.
United States Patent |
10,145,766 |
Kubota , et al. |
December 4, 2018 |
Smear preparing apparatus
Abstract
A smear preparing apparatus of an embodiment includes: a
transportation part that holds and transports a microscope slide; a
housing defining a room therein, the housing including: an
insertion opening through which the microscope slide transported by
the transportation part is to be inserted, and a feed opening
through which air is to be fed; and a blower configured to feed the
air through the feed opening to the microscope slide housed in the
housing. The housing further includes a discharge opening through
which the air fed from the blower through the feed opening is
discharged.
Inventors: |
Kubota; Shogo (Kobe,
JP), Shinabe; Seiya (Kobe, JP), Kondo;
Kenji (Kobe, JP) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SYSMEX CORPORATION |
Kobe-shi, Hyogo |
N/A |
JP |
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Assignee: |
SYSMEX CORPORATION (Kobe-shi,
JP)
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Family
ID: |
56074256 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/604,698 |
Filed: |
May 25, 2017 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20170261412 A1 |
Sep 14, 2017 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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PCT/JP2015/082501 |
Nov 19, 2015 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Nov 26, 2014 [JP] |
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2014-239038 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F26B
25/06 (20130101); F26B 3/04 (20130101); G01N
1/28 (20130101); F26B 9/003 (20130101); G01N
1/30 (20130101); G01N 1/312 (20130101); G01N
1/2813 (20130101); G01N 33/48 (20130101); G01N
2001/302 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G01N
1/00 (20060101); F26B 25/06 (20060101); F26B
3/04 (20060101); F26B 9/00 (20060101); G01N
1/31 (20060101); G01N 33/48 (20060101); G01N
1/30 (20060101); G01N 1/28 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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S60-171431 |
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Sep 1985 |
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JP |
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S61-173062 |
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Oct 1986 |
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JP |
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H03-033655 |
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Feb 1991 |
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JP |
|
H11-237323 |
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Aug 1999 |
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JP |
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2005-181245 |
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Jul 2005 |
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JP |
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2009-162784 |
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Jul 2009 |
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JP |
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Primary Examiner: Nagpaul; Jyoti
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Metrolexis Law Group, PLLC
Parent Case Text
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation application of International
Application No. PCT/JP2015/082501, filed on Nov. 19, 2015, entitled
"SMEAR PREPARING APPARATUS", which claims priority based on the
Article 8 of Patent Cooperation Treaty from prior Japanese Patent
Applications No. 2014-239038, filed on Nov. 26, 2014, the entire
contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A smear preparing apparatus comprising: a transportation part
that holds and transports a slide; a housing defining a room
therein, the housing comprising: an insertion opening through which
the slide transported by the transportation part is to be inserted
such that an upper end portion of the slide is exposed from the
insertion opening outside the housing; and a feed opening of the
housing through which air is to be fed; and a blower configured to
feed the air through the feed opening to the slide to be housed in
the housing; wherein the housing further comprises a discharge
opening different from the insertion opening and the feed opening;
and the air fed from the blower through the feed opening is
discharged through the insertion opening and the discharge
opening.
2. The smear preparing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
insertion opening is formed at an upper end portion of the housing,
the feed opening is formed at a first side of the housing, and the
discharge opening is formed at one of: a lower end portion of the
housing or at a second side of the housing, which is different from
the first side of the housing.
3. The smear preparing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the
discharge opening is formed at a lower portion of the second side
of the housing.
4. The smear preparing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the
discharge opening is formed at the second side of the housing that
is provided opposite to the first side of the housing with respect
to the room.
5. The smear preparing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
slide comprises a plurality of slides, the housing is configured to
house the plurality of slides, and the transportation part
sequentially pulls, from the housing, each of the plurality of
slides that has stayed in the housing for a specified time and
transports the respective pulled slide.
6. The smear preparing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
blower is configured to feed the air through the feed opening
toward a first edge side of the slide housed in the housing.
7. The smear preparing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
housing is configured such that the air fed from the blower through
the feed opening blows across a smear portion of the slide
laterally from a first edge side to a second edge side of the
slide, and is discharged from the discharge opening and the
insertion opening.
8. The smear preparing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at
least a part of the feed opening is arranged between the insertion
opening and the discharge opening in an up-down direction.
9. The smear preparing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
housing further comprises a first side and a second side, wherein
the first side is arranged between the second side and the blower;
the first side comprises a first side portion adjacent to the feed
opening, and the second side of the housing comprises a second side
portion including an inner wall surface that faces the feed
opening.
10. The smear preparing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a
lower portion of the inner wall surface of the second side of the
housing includes a recess that is recessed from the inner wall
surface toward an outer wall surface of the second side portion, an
edge side of the slide is adjacent to the second side of the
housing, a lower end portion of the recess is adjacent to the
discharge opening, and the recess is away from the edge side of the
slide in a state in which the slide is housed in the housing.
11. The smear preparing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the
housing further comprises a first inclined portion formed at the
inner wall surface of the second side portion and a second inclined
portion formed on the first side portion adjacent to a lower
portion of the feed opening, and the first inclined portion and the
second inclined portion are inclined downward such that the air fed
from the blower through the feed opening is guided toward the
discharge opening.
12. The smear preparing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
discharge opening is formed at a position where a lower end portion
of the slide is exposed from the discharge opening in the state
where the slide is housed in the housing.
13. The smear preparing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
slide comprises a plurality of slides, the housing is configured to
house the plurality of slides, and the discharge opening has a
width wider than a distance between a first slide at one end of the
plurality of slides and a second slide at the other end of the
plurality of slides in a direction in which the plurality of slides
are arranged in the state where the plurality of slides are housed
in the housing.
14. The smear preparing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
slide comprises a plurality of slides, the housing configured to
house the plurality of slides, and the feed opening has a width
wider than a distance between a first slide at one end of the
plurality of slides and a second slide at the other end of the
plurality of slides in a direction in which the plurality of slides
are arranged in the state where the plurality of slides are housed
in the housing.
15. The smear preparing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
slide comprises a plurality of slides, the housing configured to
house the plurality of slides, and the housing further comprises a
shaft configured to support lower end portions of the housed
plurality of slides.
16. The smear preparing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
feed opening is arranged at a position that overlaps with the
slide, in a widthwise direction of the slide, in the state where
the slide is housed in the housing.
17. The smear preparing apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising a heater arranged between the feed opening and the
blower.
18. The smear preparing apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising a controller that controls operation of the blower on
the basis of a housing state of the slide in the housing.
19. The smear preparing apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising a dyeing tub configured to store a dyeing liquid into
which the slide with a sample smeared thereon is to be soaked.
20. The smear preparing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein
the transportation part transports the slide from the dyeing tub to
the housing.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The disclosure relates to a smear preparing apparatus.
BACKGROUND ART
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-162784 (Patent
Literature 1) has disclosed a smear preparing apparatus including a
fan and a cassette transportation part for transporting a cassette
with microscope slides inserted therein. In the cassette,
microscope slides with a sample smeared thereon are inserted. The
cassette includes an insertion opening at an upper end portion for
inserting the microscope slides from above. The fan is provided for
drying the microscope slides inserted in the cassette.
In the smear preparing apparatus in Patent Literature 1, there has
been a problem that it takes time to dry the microscope slides.
SUMMARY
One or more embodiments of a smear preparing apparatus may include:
a transportation part that holds and transports a microscope slide;
a housing defining a room therein, the housing including: an
insertion opening through which the microscope slide transported by
the transportation part is to be inserted, and a feed opening
through which air is to be fed; and a blower configured to feed the
air through the feed opening to the microscope slide housed in the
housing, wherein the housing further includes a discharge opening
through which the air fed from the blower through the feed opening
is discharged.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an outline of a dryer
mechanism in a smear preparing apparatus according to one or more
embodiments.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a dryer mechanism in a
smear preparing apparatus according to one or more embodiments.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG.
2.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view as viewed from X2 side of a dryer
mechanism in a smear preparing apparatus according to one or more
embodiments.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating transportation parts,
dyeing tubs, cleaning tubs, and a dryer mechanism of a smear
preparing apparatus according to one or more embodiments.
FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view for explaining an overall structure
of a smear preparing apparatus according to one or more
embodiments.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining dyeing operation of a smear
preparing apparatus.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining a drying process of a smear
preparing apparatus.
FIG. 9 is a simulation result of an air flow inside a housing.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
Hereinafter, an embodiment is described with the drawings.
With reference to FIGS. 1 to 6, descriptions are provided for the
structure of smear preparing apparatus 10 according to the
embodiment.
[Overview of Smear Preparing Apparatus]
Smear preparing apparatus 10 is an apparatus for automatically
preparing a smear by drying microscope slide 900 with a sample
subjected to dyeing. The sample is, for example, blood.
[Overview of Dryer Mechanism]
As illustrated in FIG. 1, smear preparing apparatus 10 includes
dryer mechanism 20 and transportation part 50. Dryer mechanism 20
includes housing 30 and blower 40. Dryer mechanism 20 is provided
for drying microscope slide 900 after microscope slide 900 is
subjected to a dyeing process and a cleaning process described
later.
Housing 30 is provided for housing microscope slide 900. Housing 30
is a box-shaped member having a space or a room inside. Housing 30
includes three openings. Specifically, insertion opening 31 is
formed in housing 30 for inserting microscope slide 900 transported
by transportation part 50. Feed opening 32 is formed in housing 30
for feeding air. Discharge opening 33 is formed in housing 30 for
discharging air fed from blower 40 through feed opening 32.
Insertion opening 31 and discharge opening 33 are arranged to be in
an asymmetrical positional relationship with respect to center
plane 510 in the up-down direction of housing 30. For the
arrangement positions of insertion opening 31 and discharge opening
33, various arrangement positions may be adopted. For example,
insertion opening 31 and discharge opening 33 may be arranged in a
symmetrical positional relationship with respect to center plane
510 in Z direction of housing 30.
Housing 30 houses microscope slide 900 such that the upper end
portion of microscope slide 900 is exposed above the upper end
portion of housing 30. For the material for housing 30, various
materials may be employed. Resin or metal may be employed for
material for housing 30.
Blower 40 includes case 41, fan 42, and fan housing hole 43. Blower
40 is an electric fan capable of forcibly feeding air to the inside
of housing 30. Fan 42 is housed in cylindrical fan housing hole 43
to be rotatable about rotation axis 520 parallel to X axis. Blower
40 is provided for feeding air to microscope slide 900 housed in
housing 30 through feed opening 32.
Transportation part 50 is arranged above housing 30 and is capable
of moving above housing 30. Transportation part 50 is provided for
holding and transporting microscope slide 900. Transportation part
50 is provided for taking microscope slide 900 into and out of
housing 30 through insertion opening 31.
With the above structure, air fed to the inside of housing 30 by
blower 40 can pass to the outside of housing 30 through both
insertion opening 31 and discharge opening 33. This makes it
possible to pass air effectively inside housing 30. As a result,
this reduces the time needed to dry microscope slide 900.
Insertion opening 31 is preferably formed at the upper end portion
of housing 30. Microscope slide 900 is inserted into insertion
opening 31 from above. In other words, insertion opening 31 faces
upward. Feed opening 32 is formed in first side portion 30a of
housing 30. Air is fed into housing 30 from X1 side to X2 side
through feed opening 32. Discharge opening 33 is formed in second
side portion 30b, which is different from first side portion 30a on
blower 40 side of housing 30. Note that discharge opening 33 may be
formed at the lower end portion of housing 30. This makes it
possible to discharge air, fed from feed opening 32, out of
discharge opening 33 effectively.
Note that in this specification, the direction in which first side
portion 30a is formed in housing 30 corresponds to X1 direction in
each figure, and the direction in which second side portion 30b is
formed corresponds to X2 direction in each figure. In addition, in
this specification, the upward direction corresponds to Z1
direction in each figure, and the downward direction corresponds to
Z2 direction in each figure.
More preferably, discharge opening 33 is formed near or at a lower
portion of second side portion 30b. This makes it possible to
discharge air effectively from both a lower portion and an upper
portion of housing 30, using discharge opening 33 and insertion
opening 31.
More preferably, discharge opening 33 is formed in second side
portion 30b that is provided opposite to first side portion 30a
with respect to the room of housing 30. This allows air fed from
feed opening 32 to be discharged smoothly from discharge opening 33
without curving complicatedly inside housing 30.
Blower 40 is arranged at a position on first side portion 30a side
of housing 30 and feeds air from blower 40 side to housing 30 side.
Blower 40 feeds air toward side surface 900a of microscope slide
900 housed in housing 30. Side surface 900a is a surface extending
in the thickness direction of microscope slide 900. Blower 40 feeds
air toward side surface 900a on X1 side of microscope slide
900.
Preferably, housing 30 is configured such that air fed from blower
40 through feed opening 32 comes into contact with smear portion
910 of microscope slide 900 from the side direction and is
discharged from insertion opening 31. A portion of the surface on
Y2 side of microscope slide 900 is smear portion 910, on which a
sample is smeared. Inside housing 30, microscope slide 900 is
housed such that smear portion 910 faces Y2 side. This makes it
possible to dry both the surface on smear portion 910 side of
microscope slide 900 and the surface on the opposite side from
smear portion 910 at the same time. Consequently, this further
reduces the time needed for drying, compared to the case where air
comes in contact with only one of the surfaces of microscope slide
900. Note that in this specification, the direction orthogonal to
the extending direction of rotation axis 20 of fan 42 in blower 40
and parallel to the horizontal direction corresponds to Y
direction. X, Y, and Z directions are orthogonal to each other. The
surface, on which a sample is smeared, of microscope slide 900
housed in housing 30 is orthogonal to Y axis.
Preferably, discharge opening 33 is formed at a lower portion of
second side portion 30b of housing 30, which is provided opposite
to first side portion 30a with respect to the room of housing 30.
More preferably, discharge opening 33 is formed at lower end
portion 33a of housing 30. This prevents difficulty of air passing
through near the center in the up-down direction inside housing 30.
As a result, it makes it possible to pass air effectively in the
entire inside of housing 30.
Preferably, at least part of feed opening 32 is arranged at a
position between insertion opening 31 and discharge opening 33 in
the up-down direction. This makes it possible to feed air into
around the center of the inside of housing 30 and discharge the air
from both an upper portion and a lower portion of housing 30 with
insertion opening 31 and discharge opening 33.
Preferably, inner wall surface 30c is formed at an area of second
side portion that is provided opposite to first side portion 30a
with respect to the room of housing 30, of housing 30, the area
facing feed opening 32. Blower 40 feeds air from X1 direction
toward side surface 900a of microscope slide 900 and inner wall
surface 30c on X2 side. This makes it possible to change the
direction of the air fed into housing 30 by hitting the air against
inner wall surface 30c, and feed the air to insertion opening 31
and discharge opening 33. As a result, it possible to pass air
effectively in the housing 30.
Preferably, feed opening 32 is arranged at a position overlapping
microscope slide 900, in a direction of the width of microscope
slide 900, in the state where microscope slide 900 is housed in
housing 30. The widthwise direction of microscope slide 900 is
orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of microscope slide 900.
Feed opening 32 is arranged at a position overlapping microscope
slide 900 housed in housing 30 as viewed in X direction. This makes
it possible to directly hit the air fed from blower 40 against side
surface 900a of microscope slide 900.
[Detailed Structure of Dryer Mechanism]
Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 2 and following figures,
descriptions are specifically provided for the structure of a
preferred embodiment of dryer mechanism 20 illustrated in FIG.
1.
In the preferred embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 2, dryer
mechanism 20 includes housing 30, blower 40, and heater 60.
Housing 30 is configured to house multiple microscope slides 900.
Housing 30 is capable of housing seven microscope slides 900 along
Y direction. In housing 30, microscope slide 900 is housed such
that the surface of smear portion 910 side faces Y2 side.
The number of microscope slides 900 that can be housed is not
particularly limited. Housing 30 may be configured to house one to
six microscope slides 900, or eight or more microscope slides
900.
Insertion opening 31 is configured such that microscope slides 900
can be inserted in housing 30 in the state where microscope slides
900 are apart from each other in Y direction. Insertion opening 31
is formed in the shape of comb teeth in plan view.
Feed opening 32 is formed roughly in a rectangular shape. Feed
opening 32, preferably, has a width W2 which is wider than distance
W1 between microscope slide 900 at one end and microscope slide 900
at the other end in the direction in which microscope slides 900
are arranged in the state where microscope slides 900 are housed in
housing 30. In other words, parts of all of microscope slides 900
are provided in feed opening 32 as seen from X direction. This
makes it possible to hit the air fed from blower 40 against all the
microscope slides 900 housed in housing 30. As a result, all the
microscope slides 900 can be dried uniformly.
Preferably, housing 30 includes shaft 34 to support lower end
portions of housed microscope slides 900. Shaft 34 is a bar-shaped
member extending in Y direction from the inner surface on Y1 side
to the inner surface on Y2 side of housing 30. Shaft 34 is arranged
away from bottom surface 30e of housing 30 and parallel to bottom
surface 30e (see FIG. 3). Shaft 34 supports each microscope slide
900 from below to be in line contact with each microscope slide 900
housed in housing 30. This makes a space below microscope slides
900. As a result, it is possible to pass air effectively.
For the structure to support the lower end portions of microscope
slides 900, various structure can be adopted besides shaft 34. For
example, microscope slides 900 may be supported by forming, at
bottom surface 30e (see FIG. 3) of housing 30, a support portion
that supports the lower end portions of microscope slides 900.
Preferably, heater 60 is arranged between blower 40 and feed
opening 32 of housing 30. Heater 60 is sandwiched between blower 40
and housing 30. The air fed from blower 40 receives heat when
passing through heater 60 and is fed into housing 30 in the state
of warm air. This further reduces the time needed to dry microscope
slides 900.
Specifically, heater 60 includes case 61 and heat generation
portion 62. Case 61 includes hole 61a on blower 40 side and hole
61b on housing 30 side. Heat generation portion 62 is housed in
case 61. Heat generation portion 62 connects with the outside of
case 61 through holes 61a and 61b.
Hole 61a has a circular shape as viewed from X direction. Hole 61a
is arranged at a position corresponding to fan housing hole 43 of
blower 40 as viewed from Y direction. Hole 61a is arranged to
overlap with fan housing hole 43 of blower 40 as viewed from X1
direction. Hole 61b has a rectangular shape as viewed from X
direction. Hole 61b is arranged at a position corresponding to feed
opening 32 of housing 30 as viewed from Y direction. Hole 61b is
arranged to overlap with feed opening 32 of housing 30 as viewed
from X1 direction.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, preferably, a lower portion of inner wall
surface 30c on X2 side of housing 30 includes recess 35 which is
recessed in the direction from inner wall surface 30c to outer wall
surface 30d. In other words, the thickness or the distance between
inner wall surface 30c and outer wall surface 30d of second side
portion 30b at recess 35 is thinner than that of second side
portion 30b other than recess 35. A lower end portion of recess 35
is adjacent to discharge opening 33. Recess 35 is at a position
away from side surfaces 900a of microscope slides 900 in the state
where microscope slides 900 are housed in housing 30. In other
words, recess 35 does not come in contact with side surfaces 900a
of microscope slide 900. With this structure, inner wall surface
30c and side surfaces 900a of microscope slide 900 do not come in
contact with each other, unlike the structure without recess 35. As
a result, it is possible to hit air against side surfaces 900a of
microscope slides 900 which faces recess 35.
More preferably, recess 35 is formed at a lower end portion of
inner wall surface 30c. Upper portion 35a of recess 35 is inclined
in the downward direction as viewed from Y direction. Portion 35b
other than upper portion 35a of recess 35 is formed in parallel to
side surfaces 900a of microscope slides 900 housed in housing 30,
as viewed from Y direction.
In addition, preferably, housing 30 includes inclined portion 36 on
inner wall surface 30c on X1 side of first side portion 30a.
Inclined portion 36 is inclined in the downward direction such that
the air fed from blower 40 through feed opening 32 is guided toward
discharge opening 33. This makes it possible to pass air
effectively inside housing 30.
More preferably, inclined portion 36 is formed at a position away
from microscope slides 900. Inclined portion 36 is arranged to
overlap with discharge opening 33 as viewed from X2 direction.
Shaft 34 is arranged on X1 side of the center of microscope slides
900 housed in the housing 30 in X direction. Shaft 34 is arranged
to overlap with discharge opening 33 as viewed from X direction.
The diameter of the cross section of shaft 34 is smaller than the
length of discharge opening 33 in Z direction, as viewed from Y
direction.
As illustrated in FIG. 4, preferably, discharge opening 33 is
formed at a position that allows lower end portions of microscope
slides 900 to be exposed, in the state where microscope slides 900
are housed in housing 30. In other words, the lower end portions of
all of microscope slides 900 are provided in discharge opening 33
as seen from X direction. This makes it possible to form an area
where air flow speed is high at the lower end portions of
microscope slides 900 as illustrated in the simulation result
described later (see FIG. 9). As a result, it is possible to dry
the lower end portions of microscope slides 900 effectively.
Preferably, discharge opening 33 has a rectangular shape as viewed
from X direction. Discharge opening 33 has width W3, which is wider
than distance W1 between microscope slide 900 at one end and
microscope slide 900 at the other end in Y direction in the state
where microscope slides 900 are housed in housing 30. This makes it
possible to discharge air through discharge opening 33 from the
area where all the microscope slides 900 housed in housing 30 are
arranged.
The opening area of discharge opening 33 is almost the same as that
of insertion opening 31 in the state where seven microscope slides
900 are housed in housing 30. In the state where seven microscope
slides 900 are housed in housing 30, the amount of air discharged
from discharge opening 33 is substantially the same as that
discharged from insertion opening 31. This makes it possible to
discharge air from discharge opening 33 and insertion opening 31 in
a well-balanced manner.
Each of the opening areas of discharge opening 33 and insertion
opening 31 is smaller than that of feed opening 32. This makes
large the flow speeds of the air discharged from discharge opening
33 and insertion opening 31.
[Structure of Main Portions of Smear Preparing Apparatus]
As illustrated in FIG. 5, smear preparing apparatus 10 includes
dyeing unit 101 that performs a dyeing process, a cleaning process,
and a drying process on smeared samples. Dyeing unit 101 includes
dryer mechanism 20, transportation part 50, dyeing tubs 70,
cleaning tubs 80, fluid circuit unit 90, and controller 91. Dyeing
tubs 70 includes first dyeing tub 70a, second dyeing tub 70b, third
dyeing tub 70c, fourth dyeing tub 70d, and fifth dyeing tub 70e.
First dyeing tub 70a can store first dyeing liquid. Second dyeing
tub 70b can store second dyeing liquid. Third dyeing tub 70c can
store third dyeing liquid. Fourth dyeing tub 70d and fifth dyeing
tub 70e can store fourth dyeing liquid. Cleaning tubs 80 includes
first cleaning tub 80a and second cleaning tub 80b partitioned by
partition members 14a. This makes it possible to transport
microscope slides 900 subjected to the dyeing process with dyeing
tubs 70 to dryer mechanism 20 provided in the same apparatus and
perform a drying process promptly.
Alternatively, various structures may be adopted for smear
preparing apparatus 10. For example, although in smear preparing
apparatus 10, a smearing process is further performed, in which a
sample is smeared on microscope slide 900, as an upstream process
of the dyeing process, smear preparing apparatus 10 may be
configured such that a smearing process is not performed.
Transportation part 50 is provided for holding and transporting
microscope slides 900 with sample smeared thereon. Transportation
part 50 includes first transportation part 50a and second
transportation part 50b. Both first transportation part 50a and
second transportation part 50b of transportation part 50 are
arranged above dyeing tubs 70 and cleaning tubs 80. Each of first
transportation part 50a and second transportation part 50b is
capable of moving in X direction and Y direction by movement
mechanism 52.
Movement mechanism 52 includes Y axis rail 53a and Y axis sliders
53b for Y direction, X axis rails 54a and X axis sliders 54b for X
direction, and Y axis motors 53c and X axis motors 54c. For X axis
motor 54c and Y axis motor 53c, for example, stepping motors or
servo motors can be employed.
Y axis rail 53a extends linearly in Y direction and is fixed on the
lower surface of support member 53d. Support member 53d is a
ceiling portion, a support beam member, or the like of a case of
smear preparing apparatus 10. Y axis slider 53b is attached on Z2
side of Y axis rail 53a and capable of moving along Y axis rail
53a. Y axis motor 53c moves Y axis slider 53b in Y direction by
means of an unillustrated transmission mechanism.
X axis rail 54a extends linearly in X direction and is fixed on the
lower surface of Y axis slider 53b. X axis slider 54b is attached
on Z2 side of X axis rail 54a and capable of moving along X axis
rail 54a. X axis motor 54c moves X axis slider 54b in X direction
by means of an unillustrated transmission mechanism.
Y axis sliders 53b, X axis rails 54a, X axis sliders 54b, X axis
motors 54c, and Y axis motors 53c each are provided in pairs. First
transportation part 50a and second transportation part 50b are
attached on lower face sides of the pair of X axis sliders 54b,
respectively. This enables first transportation part 50a and second
transportation part 50b to move in X direction along the respective
X axis rails 54a independently of each other. In addition, first
transportation part 50a and second transportation part 50b are
capable of moving in Y direction along common Y axis rail 53a
independently of each other.
First transportation part 50a and second transportation part 50b
have a common structure. Each of first transportation part 50a and
second transportation part 50b includes Z axis motor 55a and
transmission mechanism 55b for lifting hand 51 up and down. Z axis
motor 55a lifts hand 51 up and down by means of transmission
mechanism 55b.
Hand 51 is capable of holding one microscope slide 900. Hand 51
holds microscope slide 900 by pinching microscope slide 900 in the
thickness direction with a pair of hold plates 51a.
First transportation part 50a can move to a position above each of
first dyeing tub 70a, second dyeing tub 70b, third dyeing tub 70c,
and first cleaning tub 80a, which are on Y2 side. First
transportation part 50a is capable of inserting and pulling
microscope slide 900 one by one into and out of each of first
dyeing tub 70a, second dyeing tub 70b, third dyeing tub 70c, and
first cleaning tub 80a described later.
Second transportation part 50b can move to a position above each of
second cleaning tub 80b, fifth dyeing tub 70e, fourth dyeing tub
70d, and first cleaning tub 80a, which are on Y1 side, a position
above dryer mechanism 20, and a position at storage part 106 (see
FIG. 6) described later. Thus, second transportation part 50b is
capable of inserting and pulling microscope slide 900 one by one
into and out of each of fourth dyeing tub 70d and fifth dyeing tub
70e as well as first cleaning tub 80a and second cleaning tub
80b.
First transportation part 50a and second transportation part 50b
each are capable of transporting different microscope slides 900 in
parallel. Movement ranges of first transportation part 50a and
second transportation part 50b are overlapped with each other at
first cleaning tub 80a. Hence, handover of microscope slide 900 is
performed at first cleaning tub 80a.
Second transportation part 50b transports sequentially microscope
slides 900 on which dyeing is completed, from dyeing tub 70 to
housing 30 one by one. This makes it possible to transport
microscope slides 900 on which the dyeing process is completed
sequentially to dryer mechanism 20.
Specifically, second transportation part 50b transports microscope
slide 900 to housing 30 via each dyeing tub 70 and each cleaning
tub 80. Second transportation part 50b transports microscope slide
900 one by one into housing 30 through insertion opening 31.
Second transportation part 50b sequentially pulls microscope slide
900 out of housing 30 one by one and transports it to storage part
106 (see FIG. 6) in the order from microscope slide 900 on which
drying is completed after a specified time has passed. This makes
it possible to transport microscope slides 900 on which drying
process is completed, to storage part 106 sequentially, which
improves the process efficiency of the dyeing process.
Dyeing tub 70 is provided for storing dyeing liquid 11 so that
microscope slides 900 with a sample smeared can be soaked. Dyeing
tub 70 is a container capable of storing dyeing liquid 11 therein.
Dyeing tub 70 includes first holders 71 configured to hold
microscope slides 900. Microscope slides 900 inserted in dyeing tub
70 are arranged along Y direction. The dyeing process is performed
in dyeing tub 70 by soaking microscope slides 900 held by first
holders 71 in dyeing liquid 11 for a specified time.
Cleaning tub 80 is provided for storing cleaning liquid 13 so that
microscope slides 900 can be soaked therein. Cleaning tub 80
includes second holders 81, which are similar to first holders 71
of dyeing tub 70. Other structure of cleaning tub 80 is common to
the structure of dyeing tub 70.
Five dyeing tubs 70 of first dyeing tub 70a to fifth dyeing tub 70e
and two cleaning tubs 80 of first cleaning tub 80a and second
cleaning tub 80b are integrally formed as single structure 14 in
the state where each tub is partitioned by partition members 14a.
At a position on Y1 direction side of second cleaning tub 80b,
dryer mechanism 20 is arranged to be adjacent to structure 14.
Each dyeing tub 70 and each cleaning tub 80 are arranged in the
order of, from Y2 side, first dyeing tub 70a, second dyeing tub
70b, third dyeing tub 70c, first cleaning tub 80a, fourth dyeing
tub 70d, fifth dyeing tub 70e, and second cleaning tub 80b.
Microscope slide 900 is transported from first dyeing tub 70a on Y2
side to each tab sequentially and processed by being soaked in
dyeing liquid 11 or cleaning liquid 13 stored in each tab for a
specified set time. Each of dyeing tubs 70 and cleaning tubs 80 is
separately provided with supply port 15a for supplying liquid and
discharge port 15b for discharging the liquid.
Fluid circuit unit 90 supplies each dyeing tub 70 with dyeing
liquid 11 through supply port 15a. Fluid circuit unit 90 supplies
each cleaning tub 80 with cleaning liquid 13 through supply port
15a. Fluid circuit unit 90 discharges dyeing liquid 11 from each
dyeing tub 70 through discharge port 15b. Fluid circuit unit 90
discharges cleaning liquid 13 from each cleaning tub 80 through
discharge port 15b.
Controller 91 performs controlling transportation part 50, dryer
mechanism 20, and the like. Controller 91 includes an unillustrated
CPU and memory. Preferably, controller 91 controls operation of
blower 40 on the basis of the housing state of microscope slides
900 in housing 30. This allows blower 40 to be driven only when
microscope slides 900 need drying. Accordingly, power consumption
can be reduced.
[Other Structure of Smear Preparing Apparatus]
Next, with reference to FIG. 6, descriptions are provided for other
structure of the smear preparing apparatus 10.
In the preferred embodiment, smear preparing apparatus 10 further
includes slide supply part 102, print unit 103, sample smear unit
104, dryer unit 105, and storage part 106.
Slide supply part 102 stores a large number of microscope slides
900 (see FIG. 3) in an unused state before a sample is applied.
Slide supply part 102 is capable of supplying microscope slide 900
before application to print unit 103 one by one.
Print unit 103 is capable of printing various information such as
sample information on frosted portion 920 (see FIG. 3) near the
upper end portion of microscope slide 900. Print unit 103 is
capable of transporting printed microscope slide 900 to sample
smear unit 104.
Sample smear unit 104 is capable of smearing a sample on microscope
slide 900. Sample smear unit 104 is capable of sucking a sample
with an unillustrated sample suck mechanism and smearing the sample
on smear portion 910 (see FIG. 3) of microscope slide 900
transported from print unit 103. Sample smear unit 104 is capable
of transporting microscope slide 900 after smearing process to
dryer unit 105.
Dryer unit 105 is capable of receiving microscope slide 900 with
the sample smeared thereon from sample smear unit 104, and feeding
air toward microscope slide 900 to dry smear portion 910. Dryer
unit 105 is capable of transporting dried microscope slide 900 to
dyeing unit 101.
Dyeing unit 101 is capable of performing the dyeing process on the
sample smeared on microscope slide 900. In dyeing unit 101, a
dyeing process and a cleaning process are performed in each dyeing
tub 70 and each cleaning tub 80. After that, the drying process is
performed with dryer mechanism 20. Thereafter, microscope slides
900 already dried are transported to storage part 106 one by one.
Transportation of microscope slides 900 between these units is
performed by transportation part 50.
Storage part 106 stores the microscope slides that have been dried
by blower 40.
With the above structure, smear preparing apparatus 10 performs
each process of printing, smearing a sample, and dyeing and drying
the sample on microscope slide 900, and automatically prepares
smears.
[Dyeing Operation of Smear Preparing Apparatus]
Next, with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7, descriptions are provided for
dyeing operation of smear preparing apparatus 10. The process at
step S1 is performed by fluid circuit unit 90, and the processes at
steps S2 to S7 are performed by controller 91.
At step S1 in FIG. 7, fluid circuit unit 90 performs a process of
storing dyeing liquid 11 and cleaning liquid 13 in dyeing tubs 70
and cleaning tubs 80, respectively.
At step S2, transportation part 50 transports microscope slide 900
sequentially to first dyeing tub 70a, second dyeing tub 70b, and
third dyeing tub 70c (see FIG. 5), and a dyeing process is
performed at each dyeing tub.
Specifically, transportation part 50 transports one microscope
slide 900 to first dyeing tub 70a. Transported microscope slide 900
is soaked in first dyeing liquid 11 for a specified set time T1.
After that, transportation part 50 transports microscope slide 900
to second dyeing tub 70b and a dyeing process is performed in
second dyeing tub 70b for a specified set time T2. Thereafter,
transportation part 50 transports microscope slide 900 to third
dyeing tub 70c and a dyeing process is performed in third dyeing
tub 70c for a specified set time T3.
At step S3, transportation part 50 transports microscope slide 900
to first cleaning tub 80a (see FIG. 5) and performs a cleaning
process in first cleaning tub 80a. Specifically, transportation
part 50 transports one microscope slide 900 from third dyeing tub
70c to first cleaning tub 80a and performs the cleaning process in
first cleaning tub 80a for a specified set time T4.
At step S4, transportation part 50 transports microscope slide 900
to either fourth dyeing tub 70d or fifth dyeing tub 70e (see FIG.
5), and a dyeing process is performed in fourth dyeing tub 70d or
fifth dyeing tub 70e to which microscope slide 900 is
transported.
Specifically, transportation part 50 transports one microscope
slide 900 from first cleaning tub 80a to either fourth dyeing tub
70d or fifth dyeing tub 70e, and soaks the microscope slide 900 in
fourth dyeing liquid 11 for a specified set time T5.
At step S5, transportation part 50 transports microscope slide 900
to second cleaning tub 80b (see FIG. 5) and a cleaning process is
performed in second cleaning tub 80b. Specifically, transportation
part 50 transports one microscope slide 900 from fourth dyeing tub
70d or fifth dyeing tub 70e to second cleaning tub 80b, and the
cleaning process is performed in second cleaning tub 80b for a
specified set time T6.
At step S6, transportation part 50 transports microscope slide 900
to dryer mechanism 20 (see FIG. 5), and the microscope slide 900 is
dried in dryer mechanism 20. Microscope slide 900 is dried in dryer
mechanism 20 for a specified set time T7. At this process, the
dyeing process of a smear for one microscope slide 900 is
completed.
At step S7, transportation part 50 takes out one microscope slide
900, the dyeing process on which has been completed, from dryer
mechanism 20 and transports the microscope slide 900 to storage
part 106 (see FIG. 6). In the way described above, the dyeing
operation of smear preparing apparatus 10 is performed.
[Drying Process]
Next, with reference to FIGS. 5 and 8, descriptions are provided
for the drying process. The drying process is performed by
controller 91.
At step S11 in FIG. 8, controller 91 determines whether there is
microscope slide 900 that has been in second cleaning tub 80b (see
FIG. 5) for more than the set time T6. If there is microscope slide
900 that has been in second cleaning tub 80b for more than the set
time T6, controller 91 advances the process to step S12. On the
other hand, if there is no microscope slide 900 that has been in
second cleaning tub 80b for more than the set time T6, controller
91 advances the process to step S15.
At step S12, controller 91 determines whether blower 40 is stopped.
If blower 40 is stopped, controller 91 advances the process to step
S13. On the other hand, if blower 40 is not stopped, controller 91
advances the process to step S14.
At step S13, controller 91 drives blower 40.
At step S14, controller 91 moves microscope slides 900 from second
cleaning tub 80b to housing 30 one by one.
At step S15, controller 91 determines whether there is microscope
slide 900 that has been in housing 30 for more than the set time
T7. If there is microscope slide 900 that has been in housing 30
for more than the set time T7, controller 91 advances the process
to step S16. On the other hand, if there is no microscope slide 900
that has been in housing 30 for more than the set time T7,
controller 91 advances the process to step S17.
At step S16, controller 91 moves microscope slides 900 to housing
30.
At step S17, controller 91 determines whether there is microscope
slide 900 in second cleaning tub 80b. If there is microscope slide
900 in second cleaning tub 80b, controller 91 returns the process
to step S11. On the other hand, if there is no microscope slide 900
in second cleaning tub 80b, controller 91 advances the process to
step S18.
At step S18, controller 91 determines whether there is microscope
slide 900 in housing 30. If there is microscope slide 900 in
housing 30, controller 91 returns the process to step S15. On the
other hand, if there is no microscope slide 900 in housing 30,
controller 91 advances the process to step S19.
At step S19, controller 91 stops blower 40.
In the way described above, the drying process is performed.
[Simulation Result of Air Flow]
Next, with reference to FIGS. 4 and 9, descriptions are provided
for a simulation result of air flow inside housing 30.
Simulation conditions are determined as follows. The room
temperature is set to 20.degree. C. and the humidity is set to 30%.
Housing 30 is set to house seven microscope slides 900. Setting is
made such that a water film with a thickness of 0.1 mm exists on
area Rw, which is to be soaked in dyeing liquid, of microscope
slide 900 illustrated in FIG. 9. Note that area Rw includes smear
portion 910. After blower 40 is operated for five minutes under
these conditions, dryness of microscope slides 900 is evaluated.
Note that in FIG. 9, a thicker arrow represents a faster flow
speed, and a thinner arrow represents a slower flow speed. Fan 42
is illustrated as a rectangular shape for simulation.
It is confirmed that the air fed into feed opening 32 of housing 30
from heater 60 has a substantially uniform flow speed distribution
over the entire area in the up-down direction near the connection
portion between heater 60 and housing 30.
It is confirmed that the air fed into housing 30 hits against inner
wall surface 30c on X2 side and branches into two directions, an
upward flow and a downward flow.
It is confirmed that at insertion opening 31, air flow speed is
larger on X2 side than that on X1 side.
It is confirmed that air flow speed is substantially uniform over
the entire area in the up-down direction at discharge opening 33.
It is confirmed that the air flow speed at discharge opening 33 is
substantially equal to the air flow speed near X2 side of insertion
opening 31.
It is confirmed that air passes through also near recess 35 because
X2 side of inner wall surface 30c does not come in contact with
side surfaces 900a of microscope slides 900.
It is confirmed that the air fed from blower 40 through feed
opening 32 is guided near inclined portion 36 toward discharge
opening 33.
It is confirmed that air passes through near shaft 34 and shaft 34
does not prevent air from passing through.
It is confirmed that after blower 40 is operated for five minutes,
the first to fourth and the seventh microscope slides 900 from Y2
side out of seven microscope slides 900 (see FIG. 4) are completely
dried. It is confirmed that on the fifth and the sixth microscope
slides 900 from Y2 side out of seven microscope slides 900, an
extremely small amount of water that does not drip remains. The
amount of remaining water confirmed is at a level that does not
cause the liquid to adhere to storage part 106 even if microscope
slides 900 are stored in storage part 106.
As described above, it is confirmed that microscope slides 900 are
mostly dried by the five-minute drying process.
One or more embodiments may be specified in the following
paragraphs.
A smear preparing apparatus comprising: a transportation part that
holds and transports a microscope slide; a housing defining a room
therein, the housing comprising: an insertion opening through which
the microscope slide transported by the transportation part is to
be inserted, and a feed opening through which air is to be fed; and
a blower configured to feed the air through the feed opening to the
microscope slide housed in the housing, wherein the housing further
comprises a discharge opening through which the air fed from the
blower through the feed opening is discharged.
The smear preparing may further comprises a storage part that
stores the microscope slide that is dried by the blower.
The transportation part may transport the microscope slide one by
one from the housing to the storage part.
The smear preparing apparatus may further comprise a sample smear
unit that smears a sample on the microscope slide.
The smear preparing apparatus may further comprises a dyeing unit
that performs a dyeing process on a sample smeared on the
microscope slide.
Note that it should be understood that the embodiments disclosed in
this specification are illustrative and not restrictive in all
aspects. The scope of the invention is defined not by the
descriptions for the embodiments described above but by the claims,
and includes all modifications within the scope of the claims and
the equivalents thereof.
* * * * *